Rose sobbed hysterically. This was all too much. Cal shook her off roughly and carried on tearing the pictures from the walls. Rose went back to Cal and began to beat on his arm and back.

"Stop it stop it" she screamed.

Cal spun round and slapped her across the face. It stung and Rose felt the immediate heat from the bruise that was coming. The whole situation had gone too far this time. Too many emotions had been stirred between them. There would be no going back now.

"I'm going to burn these Rose. Every single one. I am going to burn them to ash" Cal smiled grimly at the pathetic sight of his wife cowering, holding her face, her cheeks wet with tears.

He began to gather them up under his arm, as many as he could carry and left the room.

Rose fought to gather her senses before taking after him. She tried to pull the pictures from Cal's grip, shaking his arm and tugging at the frames. He carried on walking, ignoring Rose's pleas and cries. He was very pleased with himself.

I should have thought of this a long time ago. He smiled smugly.

"Let go of my paintings Cal" screamed Rose. Losing all control, she lashed out at Cal's face and caught him under the eye.

In surprise and anger Cal dropped the paintings and turned slowly to face Rose. To Rose it was almost like slow motion. Her ribs hurt from the pounding of her heart and her breath was painful. She saw Cal come at her but was too terrified to run away. He grabbed her arms so tightly, but she did not feel any pain. Only fear. He shook her like a doll.

"You little slut. How dare you"

"Let go of me Cal" she screamed and struggled.

"You will pay for that" he screamed back.

"Let go of me Cal" she screamed again. They struggled, Rose finding some inner strength to help her get away. She was very afraid of what Cal might do now and there was the baby to consider. She broke one arm free and managed to pull slightly away from him. He raised his free hand to slap her again, but she pulled away once more. She made it to the top of the stairs before he caught her again.

It all happened very quickly.

Cal heard the words "I have to tell you Cal, I have to tell you about" but the rest was lost in a scream. Rose fell away from him and down the stairs. She fell like a rag doll, tumbling over and over. The initial scream went quiet, just the sickening thud of her hitting the steps. Cal stood frozen in disbelief at the top of the stairs, clutching the banister so tightly his knuckles went white. He watched the scene as though it was a dream.

Rose lay unmoving in a heap at the bottom of the stairs. The servants appeared from nowhere. Someone screamed, maybe it was Trudy. There was a shout of "Fetch the doctor!" and mumbling. Faces looked up at him accusingly.

Then Lovejoy appeared and took his arm.

"It's all right Sir, come with me"

"But, but is she?" stammered Cal

"Come with me Sir, we will have a brandy and it will all be sorted out."

"But I, I didn't push her. Lovejoy you have to believe me!" Cal grabbed hold of Lovejoy's collar and hung on. His face was white and his eyes were wide with fear.

"She fell, he fell"

Lovejoy took his arm again. "I know, I know. Now, let us go and have a quiet drink. It will all be all right. We will see to that."

"Yes, yes" stammered Cal breathless. He dare not look down again. "Yes, it will be alright. We can sort it out" he gasped again. Lovejoy led him away.

"Yes, sir, we will have a drink and we will sort it out. Don't worry Sir. You will be fine".